Manufacture of artificial filaments, yarns, or threads



y 1938. w. WHITEHEAD ET m, 2,116,543

MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS, YARNS, OR THREADS Filed Aug 14, 1936 INVENTORS f WILLIAM WHITEHEAD 1. 0 i: A CANFIELD HUTSON I v w B I v ORNEYS Patented May 10, 1938 UNlTED STATES" PATENT OFFICE William Whitehead and Canfield Hutson, Cumberland, Md., assignors. to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application August 14,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to artificial filaments, yarns or threads and their formation by the extrusion of spinning solutions through jets, nozzles or other spinning orifices into a solidifying medium.

An object of the invention is the formation of artificial filaments or yarns having a regular or an irregular change in denier. A further object of this, invention is the formation of filaments or yarns which have an irregularity in denier, such as a period of small denier, then a slub of large denier and then another period of small denier. Other objects of the invention will ap pear from the following detailed description and drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements of the respective views,

Fig. l is an end elevation of an artificial yarn spinning device with means to vary the denier of the yarn as it is formed.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a part of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Yarns and fabrics have been produced with desirable effects which comprise unevenness in diameter or yarn size by several means; for instance, from real silk filaments wound from tangled cocoons and containing slubs of considerable size. Similar effects have been obtained in yarns of synthetic filaments by various methods. In yarn built from discontinuous lengths of filaments, for example, this has been obtained by periodically changing the draft between the front and back rolls on a spinning frame which may be, for example, a spinning frame employed normally in the spinning of cotton yarns. Furthermore, similar effects have been obtained in yarns of substantially continuous filaments by twisting, plying or otherwise associating threads. By employing our invention there may be formed artificial yarn having pronounced thick portions or slubs by thickening each filament of the yarn at that portion. This is accomplished during the formation of the yarn and by a device which is automatic and adjustable to produce slubs varying in lengths and varying in spacing.

In accordance with our invention, we form filaments or yarns of artificial silk or the like which have a substantially uniform denier over a majority of their length, but which have at regular or irregular intervals a change in denier, or slub, creating a thick place in the filament or yarn, by interrupting the stretching of the yarns in the course of their production and allowing the filaments to be extruded from the spinning 1936, Serial No. 95,972

jets with little or no stretch at desired intervals. The varying stretch imparted to the filaments or yarns results in a correspondingly varying denier, the variations occurring at any desired intervals and to any desired degree while extending any '5 desired amount along the length of the filaments or yarns. This variation of denier is accomplished by a device which draws the filaments at a substantially uniform linear speed for a period of time, then periodically reduces drawing ac- 10 tion on the filaments as they travel from the forming jet to a winding, or twisting and winding device.

' The portions of large denier or slub of the yarn may appear at regular short or regular long intervals along the length of the yarn .or at regularly or irregularly varying intervals. Also, the denier of the slub of large denier portion may vary in degree or extent or both. Or, one or more groups of variations may appear in regular sequence, or in any desired order or at any desired intervals. Thus, for example, one or more short variations may alternate with one or more long variations, or groups of short or long variations may alternate with short or long variations, or with other groups of short and long variations. Or, the regularity or sequence of the large denier portion or slub may be broken up such that the periods of large denier appear at random along the length of the yarn. The latter method of spacing the slubs or large denier portions minimizes the possibility of the yarns producing a wood grain or pattern effect when woven into fabric. It will be understood that where yarn or thread is formed by the association of a number of filaments, all of which have a regular or an irregular change in denier and which change is similar for all the filaments at a cross-section of the yarn, there will be produced a cumulative effect in the change of denier of the yarn at that cross-section. When yarns are formed of substantially continuous filaments, there will obviously be the same number of filamentsat the larger denier periods as at the smaller denier periods. 45

Yarns or threads which have received changes in denier as above described, may be wound, or twisted and woundfor example-by means of cap-spinning devices or centrifugal boxes.

The filaments of varying denier may beformed into yarns, either alone or twisted or doubled with threads of other natural or artificial filaments or fibers. Or, they may be cut or reduced to staple lengths, either continuously with their production or subsequently thereto, and spun into yarns, either alone or mixed or blended with other natural or artificial filaments or fibers, and.

such spun yarns may, if desired, be twisted or doubled with the same or other yarns to form any desired type of thread.

Yarns or threads with irregular denier having a twist impart a novel effect to fabrics or articles wholly or partially formed from them by reason of the differential effect produced by the variation of denier and amount of twist at the various intervals of varying denier. moreover, be enhanced when the fabrics or articles are dyed, printed or otherwise colored because of the differential of penetration of the dyestufi or other coloring matter, and of the diiferential in luster between tightly twisted small denier intervals and the intervals of large denier with little or no twist.

The yarns or threads of Varying denier may be applied to the production of fabrics or articles, either alone or in association with yarns or threads of uniform denier artificial silk or of other natural or other artificial filaments or fibers, and may be utilized to give any desired design or pattern. They may be used, for example, in the warp and/or weft in weaving operations, in knitting operations, for instance, in the production of warp knitted fabrics, in circular knitting machines, in braiding or cording operations, in net or lace-making operations, or in any other fabric-forming or textile operation.

While the invention applies particularly to filaments or threads of varying or irregular denier, produced by the dry or evaporative method, and especially to filaments or thread having a base of cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivatives, such as cellulose formats, cellulose propionate or cellulose butyrate, thiocarbamic or alkoxyalkacyl esters of cellulose, methyl, ethyl or benzyl cellulose, or the condensation products of cellulose and glycols and other polyhydric alcohols, it applies likewise to filaments or yarns of varying or irregular denier produced by the Wet or coagulation method, whether it has a base of cellulose acetate or other organic derivatives of cellulose or bases of reconstituted cellulose produced by the viscose, cuprammonium or nitrate processes.

As an aid in describing the invention, the same will be described with reference to thedrawing wherein there is shown a device constructed in accordance with. this invention. The device cooperates with a. spinning cabinet which may be equipped with any suitable number of spinning jets, ducts for supplying and withdrawing evaporative atmosphere, guides, and heating or cooling elements. The exact construction of the spinning cabinet er metier is not shown since it can be any one of the devices used in the formation of artificial silks and like materials. The spinning cabinet may contain any suitable number of spinning jets, each jet having any suitable number of orifices. Each spinning jet or set of spinning jets forms a yarn having a plurality of filaments, which yarn is drawn from the cabinet or metier.

In normal spinning on a device of the type shown in the drawing, the yarn 5 leaves the spinning cabinet or metier at a port 2 and passes around a drawing roll or feed roll 3 through a guide 4 and on to a take-up winding, or twisting and winding device, such as a cap-spinning device, ring twisting device or centrifugal box. If desired, the yarn 5 may be led from the port 2 over a wick, roller or other furnishing device 6 for coating the yarn with such material as lubricants,

porting rod 8.

This effect may,-

conditioning agents, etc. The formation of yarn in accordance with this invention differs from the normal method of spinning yarn in that the yarn, after it leaves the spinning cabinet I, passes through guide eyes 1, one of which is provided for each port 2 of the spinning metier. Each of the guide eyes 1 is fastened to the lower end of a sup- The supporting rods 8, which are adapted to reciprocate, are guided by passing through suitable bearings 9 in an angle iron H. The rods 8 are attached to connecting rods l2 which are attached to a shaft l3 forming an extension on a crank l4.

Upon a suitable upright I5 is journalled a stud shaft 16 having mounted thereon a pulley l1 adapted to be driven by means of the belt l8 from the shaft supporting the feed roll 3. The stud shaft l6.is also provided with a sprocket wheel 19 which drives a sprocket wheel 2| by means of a sprocket chain 22. The sprocket wheel 2| is mounted upon a shaft 23 suitably journalled in the upright l5 and a bracket 24 suitably fastened to the spinning cabinet I. Mounted on the shaft is a cam 25. By this arrangement the cam 25 is driven through the speed-reducing mechanisrn comprising the sprocket wheels 2| and i9 the pulley H from the shaft supporting the feed roll 3.

Mounted on the spinning cabinet I is a suitable bracket 26 which is provided with an arm 21. Suitably fulcrumed in the arm 2'! is a lever arm 28 which terminates at one end in a cam follower 29. This cam follower may be in the form of a roller journalled in a forked portion at the end of the lever arm 28. The other end of the lever 28 is provided with a hole 3| in which is attached a spring 32, suitably fastened to the spinning cabinet in such a manner that it exerts an upward pull on the end of the lever arm opposite that of the cam follower. Also attached to the lever arm 28 near the end opposite the cam follower is a strap 33 which is adapted to surround the valve 34 in a pipe line 35 and to operate against a plunger 36 in said valve.

The pipe line 35 leads from a suitable source 'of compressed air to an air motor 31, the construction of which has not been shown but which may be any of the devices found on the market. The air motor 3'! efi'ects a rotation of the sprocket wheel 38 which drives a sprocket wheel 39 by means of a sprocket chain 4 i. The sprocket wheel 39 is mounted on a shaft 42 which is suitably journalled in the bracket 26 extending from the spinning cabinet I. The shaft 42 forms one arm of the crank l4. Upon applying compressed air to the air motor 31, the sprocket wheel 39 and the shaft 42 are rotated, thus effecting a rotation of the crank l4 which, in turn, produces a vertical reciprocation of the supporting rod 8 and guide eyes 1.

In operation of the device, the yarn is led from the spinning jets (not shown) through port 2, guide eye 1, then around the constantly and uniformly rotating feed roll 3 to the take-up package. The rotation of the cam 25 effects an opening and closing of the valve 34, resulting in an intermittent supply of compressed air to the air motor 3'! by which means the air motor 3? produces an intermittent or irregular speed of r0- tation of the sprocket wheel 38. weight of the shaft [3 and the depending rods, the rods are moved in a downward direction at a speed greater than their upward travel. When the guide eyes 1 are raised, the drawing action effected by the feed roll 3 produces a uniform pull Due to the i or stretching of the filaments from the spinning jets, forming a yarn of substantially uniform but relatively small denier. The downward movement of the eyes 1 creates a slack in the yarn between the feed roll 3 and the spinning jet, thus reducing momentarily the drawing or stretching action on the yarn, effecting a slub or heavy denier increment in the yarn.

By employing this device, maximum variations of from 2 to 30 in denier per filament may be obtained. The periodicity of slubs in the yarn is very uneven. The following is an example of what one finds by measurement, giving thick places first-underlined, alternating with thin places. Figures given are the length in inches:

The thickness of the slubs varies a little also so that not only their length and position change but their thickness also. For instance, in yarn in which the maximum variation ratio is 1 to 6, the variation in ratio will vary all the way from 1 to 3 to l to 6. These figures are given by way of example and are not intended to limit the application.

Where the spinning cabinet or metier is of considerable length and equipped with a large number of yarn-forming jets, there may be provided across the length of the spinning cabinet a plurality of air motors each of which operates from the shafts supporting the feed roll 3, such that uniform reciprocation of a long shaft I? extending across the entire machine is produced. By regulating the size of the raised portion and the speed of the cam 25, yarn may be produced having any desired change in denier. For instance, yarn may be formed having a ratio between thin thick places of 1 to 1 /2, 1 to 2, 1 to 4, 1 to 20 or other ratios; while the intervals between slubs may also vary in length,

It is tobe understood that the foregoing description and the device shown in the drawing is merely given by way of illustration and many alterations or substitutions may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Apparatus for the production of filaments having appreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising a reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are caused to pass and means for operating said reciprocating member, said means including a motor and means for causing the intermittent operation of said motor.

2. Apparatus for the production of filaments having appreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising a reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are caused to pass and means for operating said reciprocating member, said means including a fluid-operated motor and means for causing the intermittent operation of said motor.

3. Apparatus for the production of filaments having appreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising a reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are caused to pass and means for operating said reciprocating member, said means including a motor and a cam for causing the intermittent operation of said motor.

4. Apparatus for the production of filaments having appreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising a reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are caused to pass and means for operating said reciprocating member, said means including a fluidoperated motor and a cam for causing the intermittent operation of said motor.

5. Apparatus for the production of filaments having appreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising a reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are caused to pass and means for operating said reciprocating member, said means including a motor, a source of fiuid for operating said motor and means for controlling the supply of fluid to said motor whereby the motor is caused to operate intermittently.

6. Apparatus for the production of filaments having appreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising a reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are caused to pass and means for operating said reciprocating member, said means including a motor, a source of fluid for operating said motor and means comprising a cam and a pivoted lever operated thereby for controlling the supply of fluid to said motor whereby the motor is caused to operate intermittently.

'7. Apparatus for the production of filaments having appreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, comprising a reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are caused to pass and means for operating said reciprocating member, said means including a crank, a motor for operating said crank, a source of fluid for said motor and means for controlling the supply of fiuid to said motor whereby the motor is caused to operate intermittently.

8. In an apparatus for the production of filaments having appreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, the combination with means for spinning filaments and a drawing roller over which said filaments pass on leaving the spinning means, of a reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are caused to pass and means for operating said reciprocating member, said means including a motor, a source of fluid for operating said motor and means operatedby said drawing roller for controlling the supply of fluid to said motor, the construction and arrangement being such that the motor is caused to operate intermittently.

9. In an apparatus for the production of filaments having appreciable variations in denier along the length thereof, the combination with,

means for spinning filaments and a drawing roller over which said filaments pass on leaving the spinning means, of a reciprocating member having a guide through which filaments are caused to pass and means for operating said reciprocating member, said means including a motor, a source of fluid for operating said motor and a cam operated by said drawing roller for controlling the supply of fiuid to said motor, the construction and arrangement being such that the motor is caused to operate intermittently.

WILLIAM WHITEHEAD. CANFIELD HUTSON. 

